William Milne Bradley

William M. Bradley, Pioneer of This vicinity, Succumbs to Injuries of Fall in California

Veteran of Indian Wars in Kansas, 90 Years Old, Suffers Fatal Hurts at Old Soldier's Home at Sawtelle; Burial Friday; Was Blacksmith Here During Early Days of Lusk; Had Been Failing in Health since Injured Last Summer.

A message received on Tuesday by Russell Bradley of this city from Sawtelle, Calif., telling of the death of his father, William M. Bradley, came as a decided shock to many others besides the immediate family - for it told that another of Wyoming's pioneers had crossed the Divide. Mr. Bradley succumbed to injuries, supposedly internal, he received in a fall at the Old Soldiers' Home at Sawtelle, last Friday. He was taken to the home hospital Monday and passed away Tuesday afternoon, at the age of 90 years, 5 months and 25 days.

The deceased was known to a large number of residents here, many of whom are among the early settlers of this part of the state, and others with whom he had become acquainted while visiting here from the Soldiers' home. He had returned to this city almost annually since going to Sawtelle in 1925.

Mr. Bradley was born in Manchester, England, October 24, 1842. When 18 years old he came with his parents to America, settling in Canada, where they lived for about two years. From there they went to Kansas, and it was during their residence in that state that Mr. Bradley saw service in the Indian wars.

On November 24, 1870 he was married to Miss Elizabeth Reynolds, at Manhattan, Kans., and to them three children were born, all surviving. They are William, Russell Bradley and Mrs. Zona McFarlane of Lusk, Wyo., and Mrs. Laura Raffen, of Los Angeles, Calif. Five grandchildren and two great grandchildren also survive. His wife proceded him in death, passing away August 18, 1909, and remains are at rest in the Lusk cemetery.

In 1886 Mr. Bradley and family moved to Wyoming, settling on a ranch on Rawhide creek, south of here. There they lived for about eight years, at the conclusion of which time in 1895 they moved to Missouri. The family made their home there for six years, returning to Wyoming in 1901, when the deceased and son, Russell, opened a blacksmith shop here in Lusk.

The family made another change in location in the spring of 1911, moving to the Big Horn Basin country, where they remained until 1925. In that year the deceased entered the home at Sawtelle, and the Russell Bradley and family returned to Lusk to enter the dairy business.

Funeral services will be held Friday afternoon, at the soldiers' Home in Sawtelle. It is learned that he will be given a military burial, and that the remains will be interred in the cemetery there. It was Mr. Bradley's wish that he be buried in that place.

Mr. Bradley's most recent trip to this city was in the summer of last year, shortly after he had recovered from injuries suffered in an auto accident.

Although 90 years old, he was extremely active, and was distinguishable wherever he might have been, because of his decided military carriage.

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